Page 010 of 074 Chapter 12.

  Selection of suitable materials

12.2.7.  Corrosion-erosion
This attack by corrosion occurs especially on the
inner walls and internal parts of control valves and
is therefore often influential in the durability of a
component or for the entire valve. If one examines
this corrosion process more closely, one finds that
insoluble corrosion products forming an oxide layer
develop on the material surface. This layer causes
a separation between the attacking fluid and the
material. This normally very thin layer is designated
as the „passivation layer“ which prevents or at least
delays a further corrosion. For this reason, high
quality austenitic steels are usually treated at first
in a pickling plant before any further fabrication.
In this passivation process old oxide layers along
with scaling and iron dust are removed and a new,
precisely controlled passivation layer is formed.
It is obvious that this layer must not show cracks
and must not be damaged, otherwise the corrosion Figure 12.2.7.-1:  Corrosion by a too high
attack will continue. velocity of flow.

High flow velocities in the interior of the valve, fluids containing hard particles and cavitating
fluids, however, permanently destroy this passivation layer, resulting in a gradually uniform
surface corrosion of all parts. This finally limits the durability of certain parts or even the
entire control valve. Because of the special importance of the valve trim with regard to
characteristics and rangeability, a uniform material removal at the plug or seat ring is,
of course, considerably more undesirable than a material loss of the body walls. This is
also the major reason why for these trim parts a higher corrosion resistance and a better
resistance against wear & tear is always required. A survey of corrosion types occurring
most often in connection with industrial control valves and some of the remedies hereof
are shown in Table 12.3.6.-1.

12.3  Capability for resistance against wear & tear

The capability of resistance of a valve material against wear through cavitating liquids or
fluids with solid substances is another important criterion for the selection of a suitable
material. There are numerous and different reasons for wear i.e. different mechanisms
which cause material removal. Worthy of note are the following influences which can be
of critical importance for the durability of a control valve:
„„ Cavitation
„„ Erosion-corrosion
„„ Jet wear through solid particles
„„ High speed droplets with saturated steam
„„ Thermal erosion

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